JSD for permanent legal framework to form EC

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) on Wednesday proposed enacting a permanent legal framework and forming a search committee to constitute an acceptable Election Commission (EC) as they held a dialogue with President M Abdul Hamid yesterday.  A six-member Jasad delegation, led by its chief Hasanul Haque Inu, MP, came up with the proposals during a talk with President M Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban here in the afternoon. 

The dialogue lasted for about an hour from 4 pm.  At the end of the dialogue, Inu told reporters that they had placed a number of specific proposals to the President.    He said according to Article 118 of the Constitution, the President has the authority to form the Election Commission and "We highly appreciated the initiatives of the President for initiating discussions with other political parties to form an acceptable EC." 

Inu said the government usually faces an awkward situation every five years with the formation of the Election Commission. So, the enactment of a permanent law can resolve the issue. On the other hand, Inu said the President could advise the government to form an inquiry committee. In that case, members from the country's constitutional bodies should be included in the committee, he said, adding that it is necessary to include people, who have honesty, integrity and acceptance. 

He also mentioned that the individuals with the status of Appellate Division Judges and Comptroller and Auditor General can be chosen in this regard.    The formation of an election commission was not enough for a free, fair and credible poll, the Jasad chief said, adding "It is necessary to ensure that the government's executives extend all-out cooperation to the EC properly."

After the dialogue, President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told journalists that the President held talks with one of the opposition parties in Jatiya Sangsad at Bangabhaban on the second day over the formation of an independent, neutral, acceptable, strong and effective Election Commission.

Welcoming the Jasad delegation at Bangabhaban, the President said there was no specific law for forming the Election Commission.   Therefore, he hoped that all political parties would play a very positive role in forming an acceptable EC. The head of state sought the full cooperation of all the political parties in this regard.   

The delegation members include Jasad General Secretary Shirin Akhter, MP, Acting President Md Rabiul Alam, Standing Committee Member and former MP Mosharraf Hossain, vice-president Mir Hossain Akhter, and VP Former lawmaker Rezaul Karim Tansen.   On Monday last (December 20), President Hamid held a talk with the main opposition party of the parliament Jatiya Party. 

The President will hold a dialogue with Bangladesh National Awami Party next Sunday (December 26) at 4 pm, while Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Basod) will sit with the head of the state on the same day at 6 pm.     Bangladesh Tarikat Federation will sit in a dialogue with the President on Monday next (December 27) at 4 pm and Khilafat Majlis at 6 pm.   

The President will also hold a dialogue with Bangladesh Workers Party on Tuesday (December 28) at 4 pm. Talks with Bangladesh Nationalist Front-BNF and Islamic Oikya Jote will be held respectively at 4 pm and at 6 pm on Wednesday (December 29).  

However, no date has yet been set for talks with other political parties. Secretaries concerned to Bangabhaban were also present there.  Earlier, talks were held with the participation of political parties ahead of the ninth, tenth and eleventh parliamentary polls.   The President has the authority to appoint the Chief Election Commission (CEC) and not more than four Election Commissioners.   In the last few terms, the President has formed the Election Commission on the basis of the recommendations of the 'Search Committee'.   The current EC's five-year term will expire on February 14 next year.  During this period, the President will form a new commission, under which the 12th parliamentary elections will be held.

Another report adds: Thirty-seven eminent citizens in a statement on Wednesday (22 December) praised President Abdul Hamid's move to sit down with political parties for dialogues over the formation of a new Election Commission and wished for its success. President Abdul Hamid opened the dialogue on Monday with Jatiya Party (JaPa), the main opposition in the parliament.

In a joint statement, the eminent citizens said, "The President has taken the initiative to hold dialogues with the registered political parties of the country, which we consider to be timely and urgent in the current context of the country." 

Dhaka University Emeritus Professor DrSerajul Islam Chowdhury, member of the constitution drafting committee and former minister Barrister Amir-ul-Islam, former Bangladesh Bank auditor general and former caretaker government advisor M Hafizuddin Khan, former Election Commissioner Dr M Shakhawat Hossain, former Supreme Court Judge Abdul Matin, Human Rights activist DrHamida Hossain, former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed, former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder among others signed the statement. They also lauded the economic progress Bangladesh achieved in some indices. 

However, their statement noted Bangladesh is falling behind when it comes to issues like elections, accountability, law enforcement, freedom of speech and assembly rights among others. "The rate of inequality is also increasing alarmingly. The declining quality of education and health care is now undeniable. Beyond that, another major cause for concern is the deterioration of tolerance in our politics," the statement read. 

The eminent citizens hoped the president will discuss with the political parties the steps and consensus required to make economic development inclusive and the distribution system equitable. "We also hope through the dialogue, a draft over future Bangladesh will be created that will be acceptable to all," they said in the statement.  The joint statement further anticipated that specific steps would be taken to address the issue of human rights abuses in the said draft.  The citizens' coalition also expected a consensus among the parties akin to the tripartite outline drafted in 1990. 

"At the same time, we call on the President to involve the media and civil society organisations in this process," they said.  The current EC is scheduled to expire on 14 February, 2022. Currently, there are 39 registered political parties in the country, according to the EC website. However,  only nine parties have representation in the parliament.

The nine political parties are -  Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party (JaPa), Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Bangladesh Workers Party, JatiyaSamajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Gano Forum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP.